JJAD P1-E all electric sports car
Former McLaren designer Jim Dowle says his next creation is gonna be more advanced than rivals from Tesla Motors. Dowle and his company JJAD are working on a new two-seater electric sports car that is aimed at the Fiskers and Teslas of the world.
"A big part is to produce something people want to drive," Dowle said. "We hope it will raise the bar for electric vehicles."
Called the P1-E the vehicle is inspired by the Lancia Stratos and Lotus Exige. At the same time it features those Mercedes SLR-style doors. The British-made P1-E is made of lightweight composite body panels over a carbonfibre and aluminium tub resulting in a 1,055 kg (2325 lbs) total weight. Two electric motors are placed on either end of the car's chassis and these are powered by lithium-ion batteries. It uses a 4WD system to access the 590lb ft of torque at the wheels and 290kW (389bhp). 0 to 60mph arrives in a stunning 2.9 seconds. JJAD says the P1-E can travel up to 230 miles using one full recharge.
If all goes according to plan the car will be released in 2012 at a rate of 500 per year and a cost of about £55,000.
Source: JJAD via
autocar
Press Release (Click to expand)
JJAD'S MUCH ACCLAIMED P1 SPORTS CAR CONTINUES TO TAKE SHAPE - NOW WITH ELECTRIC POWER
This is the electric car that enthusiasts WILL want to own!
Former McLaren designer Jim Dowle (JJAD) first announced details of his eye-catching P1 sports car back in February of last year. The response was universally positive and the subsequent progress has been both rapid and dramatic - in particular, a switch to electric power means the P1-E is destined to be one of the world's first purpose-built electric sports cars. With stunning acceleration (0-60mph in 2.9 secs), practical range (230 miles), low weight (1,055kg) and a price around £55,000, this gullwing-doored, pocket rocket will be the electric car enthusiasts really will want to own.
Having worked on such landmark projects as the McLaren F1, Dowle knows what it takes to make a drivers' car. The P1-E's twin electric motors and attendant lithium-ion batteries are placed for optimum weight distribution and low centre of gravity, while the long wishbones front and rear ensure ideal suspension geometry. Four-wheel drive endows the car with maximum traction. It also allows regenerative braking on each wheel, the energy gained from which is used to top up the batteries.
Said Dowle, "All the electric cars produced to date have been compromised in one way or another and most have been of little attraction to the enthusiast driver. We decided it was time to create an affordable electric sports car that combined the advantages of conventionally-engined machines with those of electric ones, without the disadvantages of either - in short, a drivers' car for the 21st century.
"Since February we've been busy finalising the specification, fine-tuning the styling and seeking appropriate funding, and plan to have our first prototype up and running during 2009. Most of the programme's key partnerships are now in place, though we'd still welcome approaches from any companies interested in investing in our mould-breaking performance car. Another remaining task is to agree its final name, P1-E being the project's code."
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Bristol411S3
January 23, 2009 4:13 PM
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